Barely a week after the Muslim community in The Gambia started observing the holy month of Ramadan, the Daily Observer took it upon itself to sample the opinion of the general public on the state of the prices of basic food commodities in the market.

However, the paper has so far gathered that prices of basic food commodities continue to rise crescendo.

Prices fluctuation seem to be the favourite activity of unscrupulous retailers.
At the Serrekunda market, consumers have raised great concerns over the recent price hike of basic foodstuff.

In Latrikunda, a general mood of dissatisfaction with the trends prevailing in the market convinced this reporter that vendors needed to put their acts in order.

In speaking with some of the vendors, they informed he paper that the cost price of some foodstuff like rice is D820 and a bag of onion is D330.  A bag of potatoe, sugar cost D440 and D575 respectively.

The Community Assistant Group, an organisation that has been relentless in efforts to wipe out the growing inflation of prices and other malpractices which abound in the business community, especially local markets, has once again exposed another malpractice.

According to the outcome of their investigations, some unscrupulous butchers have adopted the dubious practice of cheating on buyers, by loosening the knots of their weighing scales, a criminal technique that enables them to under-measure their meat at the expense of unsuspecting customers. Revealing this to the Daily Observer at his office at the Serrekunda market, Buba Sarr, the chairman of the Community Assistant Group, emphasised the need for people to be educated about the dubious technique.

This, he said, prompted him to call on the authorities concerned to investigate the matter. He noted that they were collaborators in the general efforts to weed out such unpleasant phenomena.

Mr Sarr also told this paper that the butchers have also increased the price of meat and bone from D75 to D80 per kilo; and steak, from D90 to D100 per kilo, something he said they were doing at their own discretion. 

He further expressed dismay at the rapid inflation of the price of Irish potatoes, which he said had also been increased from D350 to D650 per bag. A bag of onion, he said, was also inflated from D300 to D600 per bag.

He, however, put the blame on importers of such goods, adding that recently, Armanti Irish potatoes and onions were out of stock. These, he said, used to be the best and most affordable and some other businessmen who buy these products from neighbouring countries inflate their price.

Public Express Concerns Over Rising Prices of Goods

As Muslims all over the world enter yet another month of Ramadan, concerns as to the rising prices of basic commodities especially during this holy month continue to occupy the minds of many.

The holy month of Ramadan, seen by many as a month of blessing, has in recent times seen the highest increase in the prices of commodities especially sugar and rice.

Well, taking a stroll in and around the streets of Serrekunda yesterday, our reporter caught up with some members of the general public who have expressed serious concerns, calling on the government to take urgent action.

According to one Maimuna Ndow, a vendor at the Serrekunda market, “As Muslims, we should see this month as a month that we can use to earn ourselves more blessing from Allah the Almighty. We should be reasonable enough to enable the poor to enjoy this month. We are not equal and knowing that, one should be willing to share with the needy.”

For one Aji Yamoundow Ceesay, this is different. “Despite being in the month of Ramadan, I will maintain my prices as they are. I bought some of my goods at very exorbitant prices before this month, so I don’t see any reason why I should bring down my prices. I intend to continue to sell my goods on my own price”.

As explained by one Ousman Camara, the month should not be seen as a moment to profiteer but rather as a month to earn more blessings from God. “Yes business is business but we should be reasonable enough at certain times. Businessmen should not use this as an opportunity to make more money to the detriment of the poor and the needy,” he said.

In the view of one Mustapha Manneh, Muslims should make best use of the month rather than committing more sins for themselves by selling their goods at more than the reasonable selling price. “We should not be bent on making more profit during this period. We should try to get ourselves closer to the Almighty Allah by doing what is right and not otherwise”.

A businessman, who wants to remain anonymous, said the general public should also understand that the business community consists of human beings and therefore have to survive. “We set up our own businesses to help ourselves and our families. The public should not just look at their interest but rather the interests of the business people.” “Skyrocketing prices have been a long problem in this country and people should not only think that prices should go down at this very month. This has been a long problem and I believe the only thing that can at least alleviate the situation is for government to intervene. Mere talk will not do anything about this. Urgent action by government is the only solution especially in this holy month,” said one Oumie Nyang of Dippa Kunda.

The soaring price of cashew nuts in Senegal’s restive southern region Casamance is lining the pockets of armed rebels according to Ismaïla Diédhiou, an agricultural expert who works at the local development association ASPRODEB.

“Insecurity has also risen in the forests where cashews are grown towards the Guinea-Bissau border, which has benefited the rebels who collect the nuts themselves to sell them on in Ziguinchor and Guinea-Bissau,” Diédhiou said.

Since March the price of cashews has shot up from 29 US cents per kg to 94 US cents now to reach “the highest price in ten years,” said producer Aliou Coly. The price rise was caused by a small harvest, improved quality of the nuts, and the removal of fixed prices, according to experts.

Damien Manga, a member of the rebel group the Movement of Democratic Forces in the Casamance (MFDC) confirmed that rebels benefit from selling cashew nuts.

But he says they only use the money to cover their living expenses – not to buy the weapons they have allegedly used in a series of attacks on civilians over the course of this year.

In May 2008 the MFDC were allegedly involved in slicing off the ears of up to 20 peasant farmers who had ignored a warning from the rebels to stop selling cashews.

“We collect cashew nuts to sell like everyone else. It is through cashew nuts that we can afford to buy clothes or shoes and take care of our daily needs,” he said, adding “[This year] I got over a tonne of nuts, which meant I could repair my motorbike,” Manga said.

“Some say [selling] cashews or cannabis enables us to buy weapons. This is false… it is only our leaders who buy our weapons.”

Manga blamed violence near cashew orchards on the Senegalese military which has a heavy presence in the break-away region, claiming they too profit from the cashew trade.

Lieutenant Malamine Camara, Senegalese military spokesperson in Ziguinchor, denied the allegation.

“Our mission is to ensure the safety of people and goods in this region. We never engage in profit-making activities, and we execute our mission by the rules,” he said.

While a handful of farmers and rebels are profiting from the high prices, for the peasants who are too afraid to access their land, 2008 is as bad a year as any other.

“Most of our orchards are on land that is exploited by the rebels. We still don’t dare go there because of the landmines and the armed men,” producer Bacary Sane, who owns trees near the Guinea-Bissau border, told IRIN.

IRIN 

As conveyed in our lead story, many businessmen we spoke to  have called for reduction of tariffs on imported goods. They are of the view that high tariffs and taxes are responsible for the recent hike in prices of essential commodities in the country.

It is a widespread conception that business in general has gotten so slow in the country that some major shop owners have started relocating to other countries where duties are cheaper.

Another worrying phenomenon is that people from the sub-region are no longer coming into the country to buy goods for reselling back in their respective countries because our goods are said to be expensive.

Some financial authorities have confessed and acknowledged the difficulties that the business community is facing with regard to the re- export trade. 

Of recent, commodity prices assumed an upward spiral so that average family’s monthly spending on essentials has doubled. It is something of an irony that today, although the official inflation rate is low, the monthly spending of most Gambians have risen rapidly.

Recently The Point launched a cost of living survey as families struggle to keep afloat in the midst of uncertain economic period.

Such daily necessities as food, water, electricity, travel are hiking and many families are already struggling under the unfortunate pressure of this rising living costs and the price of grocery products have continued to rise.

The situation suggests that a household spending D2000 a month on food in 2007 will now have to find at least an extra D1000.

The increase in electricity and water bills threaten to shoot household budgets over the roof.

The income of the pensioner population is next to nothing. They are much more affected by what is happening now.

However, huge increases are being pushed through in the price of rice and oil because they are used widely.

Unleaded petrol is up from D30 to D33 while diesel has soared from D28 to D32.

The Department of State for Finance should review tariffs and taxes so that we regain the edge and competitiveness that The Gambia has been known for. They should act now before it is too late.

“Wealth is like sea-water: the more we drink, the thirstier we become; and the same is true of fame.”

Schopenhauer, Arthur

The government of The Gambia yesterday, 20th May, 2008 announced increase in the pump prices of Super Petrol, Gas Oil and Kerosene.

According to a news release from the Department of State for Finance and Economic Affairs, the increase in the prices will be as follows: Super Petrol from D30.00 to D33.00 per litre; Gas Oil from D28.00 to D32.00 per litre and Kerosene from D21.00 to D26.00.

“ Government has decided to increase the pump prices of Super Petrol, Gas Oil and Kerosene with effect from today, 20th May, 2008”, the release concludes.